Pictures Montserrat mountain Barcelona

Montserrat mountain is home to the Basilica de Montserrat and Montserrat Benedictine abbey. The abbey is called "Monasterio de Santa María de Montserrat" and in the Catalan language "Monestir de Santa Maria de Montserrat".

Montserrat is one of Barcelona and Spain's most famous tourist attractions with breathtaking scenery, unique rock formations, panoramic views and 1000 years of legend, culture and history.

Montserrat is home to the "Santuari de La mar de Déu" the "Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat" which is one of Spain’s most famous Benedictine monasteries, the Monestir de Montserrat and home to the famous Black virgin of Montserrat. The Montserrat monastery has a history spanning almost a thousand years since it was founded in 1025 by Abbot Oliba.

Montserrat is just one hour from Barcelona and is visited by millions of travellers and pilgrims each year. Montserrat monastery is also a location in bestselling author Dan Brown's new book 'Origin' released in October 2017.

The name Montserrat means "serrated mountain." Serrated, or jagged mountain is a perfect name for this unusual and jagged mountain massif. The name originates from Roman times, when it was named Mons Serratus. It is also, but less frequently, called Montsagrat by the Catalans, which means “sacred mountain.”

Montserrat is home to the "Santuari de La mar de Déu" the "Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat" which is one of Spain’s most famous Benedictine monasteries, the Monestir de Montserrat and home to the famous Black virgin of Montserrat. The Montserrat monastery has a history spanning almost a thousand years since it was founded in 1025 by Abbot Oliba.

Pictures Montserrat mountain

Montserrat Monastery seen from the Funicular de Sant Joan, which is one of the two funicular trains that are at the monastery area. This funicular railway gives visitors a spectacular panoramic view of Montserrat, 1,000 m above sea level.

The journey up Sant Joan funicular is a unique experience, with a steep slope gradient (more than 65%), travelling 503 metres. The Sant Joan funicular opened in 1918 to connect the monastery with Sant Joan Chapel near the top of the mountain. It has recently been completely modernised, with new panoramic vehicles

St. Michael's cross. Cruz de San Miguel at Montserrat. From here there are beautiful views towards the Monastery, of the Bages plain and the Pyrenees and towards Barcelona city and the Mediterranean sea.

The Basilica de Montserrat monastery is home to the famous Montserrat black virgin sculpture called "La Moreneta" La Moreneta is 12th century wooden sculpture which is venerated for her healing powers and miracles.

One of the popular things to do on visit to Montserrat monastery is to hear the Montserrat boys choir sing. The Montserrat boys choir is one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe. It is called the "Escolania de Montserrat.

The boys choir sing in the Basilica from Monday to Friday at 1pm, when they sing two pieces, the Salve and the Virolai which takes about 10 to 15 minutes in total. It is a good tip to be inside the church 30 minutes before they sing in the winter and 45 minutes before in the summer.

The boys choir does not sing on Saturdays and they do not sing on Spanish school summer holidays which are from end June to mid September or during Christmas school holidays. The boys choir sings at 11.00 for mass on Sundays. A couple of times a year the boys choir are on tour.

Sunrise views of Montserrat mountain near Barcelona

The "Santa Cova de Montserrat" chapel is perched on the mountain side of Montserrat. Legend has it that the Virgin of Montserrat sculpture was found here by shepherd boys in the 9th century. They found the Virgin of Montserrat in the cave behind the Santa Cova chapel.

It is possible to visit the Santa Cova, but the present Virgin of Montserrat sculpture is in the basilica and not in the Santa Cova.

Montserrat is home to the "Santuari de La mar de Déu" the "Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat" which is one of Spain’s most famous Benedictine monasteries, the Monestir de Montserrat and home to the famous Black virgin of Montserrat.

The Montserrat monastery has a history spanning almost a thousand years .It was founded in 1025 by Bishop Oliba, Abat Oliba, who was the first Abbot of Montserrat.

Aerial view of Montserrat mountain which is about 1 hour west of Barcelona

Montserrat mountain has many amazing rock formations and almost all of them have names. The Elephant rock on Montserrat mountain is perhaps the most famous rock on Montserrat because of its natural shape of an elephant head and trunk.

Montserrat church is usually full for the daily performance at 1pm of Salve and Virolai by the boys choir "Escolania de Montserrat." The boys choir does not sing during school holidays and on Saturdays.

St. Michael's cross - Cruz de San Miguel at Montserrat

Plaza de Santa María at Montserrat monastery

Sunset views from Montserrat towards Barcelona and the Mediterranean sea

Views towards the snow-capped Pyrenees mountains which can be seen from Montserrat mountain on a clear day

Montserrat facilities include a mountain cog railway station to take visitors up from the Llobregat valley to the monastery area. At the monastery area there are 2 funicular railways, a gift shop, an art museum, a 3 star hotel called Hotel Abat Cisneros and several restaurants and cafeterias

Monastery seen from Funicular de Sant Joan, which is one of the two funicular trains that are at the monastery area